Topic Guide

What Is Character acting?

Character acting is a subject covered in depth across 2 podcast episodes in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.

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Key Concepts in Character acting

Fish out of water trope

This describes a common narrative device where a character is placed in an unfamiliar environment, leading to comedic or dramatic situations. Paramount initially rejected 'Coming to America' due to perceiving it as a generic 'fish out of water' story, highlighting how studios can dismiss concepts they view as overused before unique creative additions redefine them.

Character-driven storytelling

This refers to narratives where the personalities and interactions of distinct characters are central to the plot and appeal. The episode illustrates how 'Coming to America' transformed from a generic premise to a beloved film when Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall took on multiple, distinct characters, each drawing on personal experiences and observations, thereby making the story uniquely engaging.

Second city

Described by Kind as his "Harvard of acting," Second City originated in 1959 from University of Chicago intellectuals, initially featuring Jewish intelligentsia before evolving to include figures like Bill Murray and John Belushi. It functions as a rigorous training ground where actors learn improvisation by performing sketches and nightly shows in front of an audience, refining their craft over years.

Maple vs. satellite character

Richard Kind uses this analogy to describe the hierarchy and function of roles in a sitcom. The 'maple' is the central, lead character around whom the show revolves, while the 'satellite character' is a supporting player whose job is to 'spice up' the scene and deliver quick laughs to keep the audience engaged, a role Kind readily identifies with.

Project 2025

A political blueprint described as a "battle plan" by Kind, whose accelerating success he finds alarming. He and Conan discuss the potential for this plan to fundamentally alter democracy and question how far legal and societal structures will allow it to progress, posing a significant concern for the country's future direction.

What Experts Say About Character acting

1.Arsenio Hall's portrayal of the preacher in "Coming to America" was directly inspired by his childhood experience of watching his charismatic preacher father from the back of the pulpit.
2.Conan O'Brien identifies with Arsenio Hall's lifelong motivation to please his parents, recognizing it as a driving force behind his own comedic career.
3.Paramount Pictures initially rejected the concept for "Coming to America," deeming it a generic "fish out of water" story without the iconic multi-character elements.
4.The film was significantly enhanced by Paramount executive Ned Tannon's suggestion for Eddie Murphy to play multiple characters, which led to the creation of the barber and old Jewish man roles.
5.Eddie Murphy specifically recruited Arsenio Hall to play the preacher character in "Coming to America," having been impressed by Hall's stand-up impression of Jesse Jackson.
6.Arsenio Hall made "Coming to America" during a period of professional 'downtime' while awaiting confirmation on whether he would receive his own talk show.